3 ways to eat Overnight Oats which are anything but boring

February 4, 2016

All about Overnight Oats and 3 recipes that will make you look forward to eating oats for breakfast! Check them out now 🙂

We are all aware of the numerous health benefits of oats. But one must admit that the same oats porridge every morning for breakfast does become a kind of a monotony and you crave for something different. Also, there are people who are not a fan of the gooey texture of oats once it is cooked.

Overnight oats to the rescue!

What is overnight oats?

These days overnight oats seems to be trending concept around the world, where quick oats or instant oatmeal is soaked overnight in water / yogurt and had the following morning with toppings of choice, be it nuts, fruits, chia seeds, milk, yogurt, dried fruit, flaxseed meal, honey etc.

You may wonder how this is different from how oats are typically eaten, cooked as a porridge. In this case, soaking overnight, partially cooks / softens the oats and they can be eaten as it is the following morning, with no cooking whatsoever. The overnight oats have an interesting texture that I find much more likeable than that of cooked oats.

The health benefits of overnight oats:

Overnight oats cuts down cooking time, gives a different texture to oats and there’s huge scope for variety by just changing the toppings. It is my new favourite way to enjoy the health benefits of eating oats for breakfast.

Can be prepped the previous night so a health conscious person doesn’t have to think of what breakfast to make / cook, the oats are soaked and ready, just add your toppings of choice and the breakfast is ready. Can also be prepped in a bottle the previous night and it becomes an on-the-go breakfast.

Soaking overnight generates slight fermentation so the breakfast is rich in probiotics which are gut friendly

Soaking reduces phytates which are present in all grains, phytates reduce absorption of minerals and there the grains become better bio available on soaking.

This texture will appeal to anyone who doesn’t like the texture of cooked oats.

One such bowl of overnight oats is rich in fiber, complex carbs, protein, probiotics and antioxidants from the fruits / nuts etc added as toppings.

Here are 3 recipes with Horlicks Overnight Oats – each recipe serves 1. The recipes can easily be scaled up to serve more.

OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE 1 #thehealthybowl

Delicious Banana, Almond, Honey & Oats bowl

Soak 1/2 cup Horlicks Oats in 1/2 cup water + 1 tbsp yogurt overnight in a bowl. Keep covered and leave it on the counter. Do not refrigerate.

To soaked overnight oats, add:

1/2 cup milk

Mix well and top with:

1 tbsp honey

1 medium banana sliced

5-6 roasted almonds, chopped

Chia seeds or flaxseed meal

Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon powder

Eat / serve immediately.

OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE 2

Banana Cafe Mocha Smoothie

Soak 1/2 cup Horlicks Oats in 1/2 cup water + 1 tbsp yogurt overnight in a bowl. Keep covered and leave it on the counter. Do not refrigerate.

In a blender, add:

Soaked overnight oats

1/2 cup milk

1 medium banana (peeled and frozen overnight)

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp instant coffee powder

1 tbsp coconut sugar or raw honey

2 cubes of ice

Blend until you get a smoothie and serve immediately.

OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE 3 #thehealthybowl

Overnight Oats “Curd Rice”

Soak 1/2 cup Horlicks Oats in 1/2 cup water + 1 tbsp yogurt overnight in a bowl. Keep covered and leave it on the counter. Do not refrigerate.